2. Combination th

The combination TH may sometimes present a problem because it represents the sounds [th] and [th], and there is no rule on where and which of the two sounds to pronounce. But if you just write the following words in two columns, look at them attentively and read them aloud several times, it will take care of the problem:

The sound [th]: the, this, that, these, those, then, they, their, there, though, other, mother, father, brother, breathe, bathe, clothes.

The sound [th]: thin, thick, thank, think, thought, through, theater, three, theory, therapy, thermometer, thorough, method, author, breath, bath, cloth.

3. Sound [k]: k, ck, c, ch, que

The sound [k] is represented in writing by the letters and combinations k, ck, c, ch, que.

There are not too many common English words that begin with K: keep, keen, kerchief, kernel, kick, kind, kid, kill, king, kiss, kit, kitchen. The majority of the words that begin with the letter K are of foreign origin: kangaroo, kinetic, kleptomania, kaleidoscope, kerosene, Kabul, karma, kilogram.

Note that many English names begin with K, for example: Kathleen, Karen, Kimberly, Keith, Kenneth, Kent, Kevin, Kelvin. Some of the names beginning with K are variants of spelling with C: Catherine - Katherine, Caroline - Karoline, Chris - Kris, Carl - Karl. (See the file English Names and the other files about names in the section Vocabulary.)

The letter K in English words is often found after another consonant: skate, skeleton, skill, sky, blanket, napkin, mask, park; or alone after a long vowel, a diphthong, or combination of vowels: seek, break, take, joke, look.

The single letter K at the end of the word after a short vowel sound is rare in English (for example, sputnik, beatnik, Nikky). The letter combination CK is used instead of K in such cases: pack, sick, jacket, rocket, cracker.

In several words, the final sound [k] is represented by QUE in writing: unique, technique, antique, physique, clique, grotesque. Note that the combination QU has the sound [kw] at the beginning and in the middle of many English words: queen, quarter, quite, quiet, question, squad, squirrel, require, inquire.

4. Letter c: sounds [s], [k]

The letter C represents two sounds: [s] and [k], and there are strict rules on where and which sound is pronounced.

Letter C: sound [s]

The letter C has the sound [s] before the vowels E, I, Y.

The sound [s]: celebrate, center, certainly, ceremony, cemetery, receive, race, price.

The sound [s]: cider, cigarette, civil, circus.

The sound [s]: cycle, cylinder, Cyprus.

Letter C: sound [k]

The letter C has the sound [k] before the vowels A, O, U and before consonants.

The sound [k]: cat, cabin, cake, call, care, carry, cancel, cast, delicate, intricate.

The sound [k]: come, complete, cord, cost, country, acoustic, decorate.

The sound [k]: cut, custom, cute, current, curious, cucumber, calculate.

The sound [k]: clean, clip, cloud, craft, credit, crown.

Combination SC

The combination SC follows the same rule: SC has the sound [s] before the vowels E, I, Y, and the sound [sk] before the vowels A, O, U and before consonants.

The sound [s]: scent, science, fascist, scythe.

The sound [sk]: scan, escape, scorch, scuba, school.

Exception: sceptic ['skeptic] / skeptic.

Combination CC

The combination CC follows the same rule: CC has the sound [ks] before the vowels E, I, Y, and the sound [k] before the vowels A, O, U and before consonants.

The sound [ks]: accent, access, accept, eccentric, accident.

The sound [k]: accommodate, account, accuse, occur, acclaim.

Letter C in the suffixes

The letter C in the suffix -ic is always pronounced [k]: panic, traffic, magic, static, systematic, democratic, economic, economical, historic, historical, practical, politics.

The letter C in the suffixes -ice, ence, ance, cy is always pronounced [s]: notice, practice, service; competence, audience, silence; resistance, reluctance, arrogance; agency, democracy, efficiency, policy.